Great idea finding a farm for your daughter to work or help out on. That's something I think would have been beneficial for my sons. Even though they visit their grandparents farm regularly, my parents are no longer "working" it, so it is not the same experience.

They boys don't have the same connection with the land and with their food that comes from growing it yourself (the veggie garden in the back yard is the only exposure and it just doesn't have the same impact as watching calves being born (or helping them being born), milking cows, catching chickens or spreading manure, there's an olfactory experience.

Ah well, we are tasked with teaching them without the same level of experience.

Frankly, I don't know how making this public knowledge is even good for the guy who owns that feedlot... how is it that he isn't hanging his head in shame? Do you suppose he believes that people generally will accept this as reasonable (and I guess I fear he is mostly right)? THAT is what bothers me so much.

When did people stop caring about the quality of their/our food?

I guess I am truly, truly blessed to have never been able to live so far from my food source that I could forget what real, quality, nutritious food tastes, smells and looks like... long before it even ends up on my plate.

I am recommitting my energies to finding a farm that will allow my daughter visit and help out on in the summer... I don't ever want her to read something like this and believe, as does this feedlot manager (I will never call him a 'farmer'), that he has stumbled upon a win/win solution.

Fully agree Ramona - to add to the already unconscionable tragedy, there are probably people who are on the fence whether to eat meat for moral/ethical reasons who would see this as a tipping point that moves them toward a no-meat diet.

I grew up in a farm environment (the only food we actually bought was salad veggies in the winter and fruit), and continue to live smack dab in the middle of an agriculturally driven economy... so I am fully aware of the challenges in making a sustainable living as a food producer... and I completely agree with voting with our wallets - I do the same to every degree and instance possible.

I guess I'm just horrified that this sort of practice is even seen as acceptible on any level (aren't there ANY sort of standards for feedlots?!?), for any animals and for the people fed on the results.

I honestly (and apparently naively) believe better of people. I have family who have altered their choice of production rather than stoop to these sorts of levels... in fact, I doubt something like this would have even occured to them. That this would even become an option baffles me.

You can bet I'll be looking even MORE CLOSELY at the sources of the food I buy!

P.S. And why does he get a news spot as an inovator instead of a visit from sort of animal welfare agency or health ombudsman? UGH!

As an accountant I started doing books for farmers. Surivial is no guarantee and I have never had the desire to join their ranks. The fight to provide for your own family produces all kinds of delimemas. I agree that we vote with our wallets and encourage healthy growth!

Growing up on a farm, I know there are certainly challenges to making a living and providing for your family, and that a lot of the variables are out of the farmers control, prices, weather, etc.

There seems to be good evidence that grass fed and finishing beef that is also ABF (anti-biotic free) is healthier. However, it is usually more expensive than the CAFO beef at the supermarket - what to do.

I decided to vote with my wallet. To the degree I can afford, and I understand we all have different levels of affordability, I buy as much grass fed and raised beef as I can - I started out at about 10% of my total consumption - I am up to over 75% now and shooting for 100%.

If we vote with our wallets in this way, the grass fed/finished farmers will have expanded markets, be able to realize economies of scale and produce quality beef at lower prices, while still making a living.

I realize we are only one family and hardly make a dent in the overall economies, but it is one thing I can do.

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